Patrick Kane Apologizes For Shirtless Photo Flap

Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane apologized for the shirtless photos of himself and his teammates that surfaced this week, telling reporters it's time for him to grow up.

Photos of Chicago Blackhawks forwards Patrick Kane, John Madden and Kris Versteeg made their rounds on the Web and beyond after The Vancouver Province's Orland Kurtenblog ran photos of the players shirtless and partying in a limo with three fully clothed women.

The blog ran the four photos Tuesday, featuring the three hockey players drinking beer and posing for the camera in a limousine with three women. Kane, Madden and Versteeg apparently wanted to show off their hockey bods to the women--who kept their clothes on (for the camera, at least.)

"I'm 21 years old, but it's probably time to grow up a little bit," Kane told reporters, adding that the photos were not taken before the Hawks lost 5-1 against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

"For us, obviously, it's not the way we want to represent the team," Kane said. "It's been discussed internally with the team and it's been figured out inside this locker room."

A Hawks spokesman told the Chicago Sun-Times president John McDonough and general manager Stan Bowman would not be commenting on the pictures. The Blackhawks told the paper the situation would be handled internally.